Where did the world come from? Why is there evil? What happens after we die? How should we live?
1. I believe that the world came from god. God created the world one step at a time. He created everything on this earth including us. He created Adam and Eve and they reproduced to eventually make us.
2. I believe that there is evil because without evil there would be no good. How would we know that paying for something is the right thing to do if people didn't steal? How would we realized that each day we are blessed to live on this earth if people didn't die? Having evil helps us appreciate the good.
3. I believe that after we die our souls continue to live in heaven where we do things that make us happy and watch over the earth.
4.I believe we should live to be happy. We should do what makes us happy and live to help others. If we are happy and we are making other people happy then we are living correctly.
Journal #2
Imagine yourself in India-- either ancient or current India--- and imagine that you have the surprise opportunity to meet a holy person, a guru, whom you have been told by many people is God incarnate (God in the flesh!) Construct the conversation that you would have with the guru. What would be your most significant question? Think of at least 3 questions. Knowing what you know of Hinduism at this point, how would the Guru reply? This should be set up like a dialogue. First you speak, then the guru, then you, etc.
Davis: "Wow I am so excited to see you! Its a pleasure to meet you, but I do have a few questions?"
Guru: "Anything for a good man like you"
Davis: "Okay one of my questions is: 'What happens after I die? Where do I go?"
Guru: "Well, that question completely depends on how much of your dharma is fulfilled. Once you fulfil your dharma we will know"
Davis: "Okay. My next question is: Why does bad karma affect good people?"
Guru: "Well it is not right but yes sometimes bad karma, put out by bad people, can affect good people. This is unfortunate but it is just how it works."
Davis: "My last and most important question is: Who created the universe?"
Guru: " The universe was created by Brahman or me. I created the universe all alone."
Davis: "Wow! Thank you for giving me some time to ask questions I am very grateful. I hope to see you again! bye!"
Journal #3
What was it like to be mindful? Why? Was it hard? Easy? Did you notice any particular thoughts to be repetitive? Be thoughtful and detailed.
Being mindful was not easy. I really had to just sit and stare at a wall without thinking. This was very hard for me to do and typically my mind ended up thinking about things going on in my life. It was very calming. My heart beats were slower and my breathes much deeper and more noticeable. It was very hard not to think about the people in my life or the things that are going on. I noticed many repetitive thoughts. I thought much about my friends and the people who can make me happy. I also thought about baseball and what goals I hope to achieve on the field. It was very hard to be mindful but I think I did a good job of slowing myself down just to sit in peace. I did enjoy being mindful and I think I will try it again sometimes It really helped me slow down and think and even gave me some motivation to be the best person I can be. It was not easy to be mindful, but it gave me some provoking thoughts and I do believe I will do it again.
Journal #4
Read the story of the 10 Commandments given to Moses here: Exodus 20 If you were God giving Moses the 10 Commandments all over again, would you change any of them? Who you rearrange, eliminate or add any commandments? Why or why not?
No, I would not change any commandments. I believe that these commandments are necessary. I would not change anything bout the commandments because our religion says we should follow them. If we believe in our religion then we believe in our commandments. I believe that god gave Moses the perfect 10 commandments or rules to live by. If I was God I wouldn't have changed or said anything different.
Journal #5 I believe that this parable of the good Samaritan is relatable to me in my life because of something that happened in my life. One day at a baseball field a little boy was struggling to hit the ball off a tee. He looked at me and I knew I should have stopped to help him but instead I continued to walk on going to get a burger and sit back down. If I would have been like the parable of the good Samaritan I could have easily helped him with the basics of hitting and he would have been able to successfully hit the ball.
Journal #6
In the United States there is a lot of misconceptions about Islam. Do you think these impressions are fair? Why or why not? What can we do to make these relationship with Muslim Americans Better?
No, I believe these impressions are not fair. I believe that maybe some Islamic people are terrorists and bad people but so are some Christians. Anyone of any religion can do something bad. Im sure the Islamic people in the middle East think of Americans as terrorists. I do not believe it is fair to classify a whole group of people as terrorist just because of something's that have happened. I believe that there is nothing we can do to make the relationships better. People will always hold grudges and everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Its unfortunate that people think of Islamic people this way but there is not anything we can do to fix it.
1. I believe that the world came from god. God created the world one step at a time. He created everything on this earth including us. He created Adam and Eve and they reproduced to eventually make us.
2. I believe that there is evil because without evil there would be no good. How would we know that paying for something is the right thing to do if people didn't steal? How would we realized that each day we are blessed to live on this earth if people didn't die? Having evil helps us appreciate the good.
3. I believe that after we die our souls continue to live in heaven where we do things that make us happy and watch over the earth.
4.I believe we should live to be happy. We should do what makes us happy and live to help others. If we are happy and we are making other people happy then we are living correctly.
Journal #2
Imagine yourself in India-- either ancient or current India--- and imagine that you have the surprise opportunity to meet a holy person, a guru, whom you have been told by many people is God incarnate (God in the flesh!) Construct the conversation that you would have with the guru. What would be your most significant question? Think of at least 3 questions. Knowing what you know of Hinduism at this point, how would the Guru reply? This should be set up like a dialogue. First you speak, then the guru, then you, etc.
Davis: "Wow I am so excited to see you! Its a pleasure to meet you, but I do have a few questions?"
Guru: "Anything for a good man like you"
Davis: "Okay one of my questions is: 'What happens after I die? Where do I go?"
Guru: "Well, that question completely depends on how much of your dharma is fulfilled. Once you fulfil your dharma we will know"
Davis: "Okay. My next question is: Why does bad karma affect good people?"
Guru: "Well it is not right but yes sometimes bad karma, put out by bad people, can affect good people. This is unfortunate but it is just how it works."
Davis: "My last and most important question is: Who created the universe?"
Guru: " The universe was created by Brahman or me. I created the universe all alone."
Davis: "Wow! Thank you for giving me some time to ask questions I am very grateful. I hope to see you again! bye!"
Journal #3
What was it like to be mindful? Why? Was it hard? Easy? Did you notice any particular thoughts to be repetitive? Be thoughtful and detailed.
Being mindful was not easy. I really had to just sit and stare at a wall without thinking. This was very hard for me to do and typically my mind ended up thinking about things going on in my life. It was very calming. My heart beats were slower and my breathes much deeper and more noticeable. It was very hard not to think about the people in my life or the things that are going on. I noticed many repetitive thoughts. I thought much about my friends and the people who can make me happy. I also thought about baseball and what goals I hope to achieve on the field. It was very hard to be mindful but I think I did a good job of slowing myself down just to sit in peace. I did enjoy being mindful and I think I will try it again sometimes It really helped me slow down and think and even gave me some motivation to be the best person I can be. It was not easy to be mindful, but it gave me some provoking thoughts and I do believe I will do it again.
Journal #4
Read the story of the 10 Commandments given to Moses here: Exodus 20 If you were God giving Moses the 10 Commandments all over again, would you change any of them? Who you rearrange, eliminate or add any commandments? Why or why not?
No, I would not change any commandments. I believe that these commandments are necessary. I would not change anything bout the commandments because our religion says we should follow them. If we believe in our religion then we believe in our commandments. I believe that god gave Moses the perfect 10 commandments or rules to live by. If I was God I wouldn't have changed or said anything different.
Journal #5
I believe that this parable of the good Samaritan is relatable to me in my life because of something that happened in my life. One day at a baseball field a little boy was struggling to hit the ball off a tee. He looked at me and I knew I should have stopped to help him but instead I continued to walk on going to get a burger and sit back down. If I would have been like the parable of the good Samaritan I could have easily helped him with the basics of hitting and he would have been able to successfully hit the ball.
Journal #6
In the United States there is a lot of misconceptions about Islam. Do you think these impressions are fair? Why or why not? What can we do to make these relationship with Muslim Americans Better?
No, I believe these impressions are not fair. I believe that maybe some Islamic people are terrorists and bad people but so are some Christians. Anyone of any religion can do something bad. Im sure the Islamic people in the middle East think of Americans as terrorists. I do not believe it is fair to classify a whole group of people as terrorist just because of something's that have happened. I believe that there is nothing we can do to make the relationships better. People will always hold grudges and everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Its unfortunate that people think of Islamic people this way but there is not anything we can do to fix it.